Hello. I would like to apologise first and foremost for the sheer lateness of this chapter. I would like to say that I had no excuse and it was just my own laziness but than I would be lying. It seems that my personal life has been rather hectic with a lot of whole family drama, which means that it wasn't just my own little world. In the professional side of life, well, let's just say that some things are just best left alone to sort themselves out. So, hopefully, you will enjoy this chapter. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Cookie-Stories: Thank you for the high compliment. Hope this doesn't disappoint.

DonutRain00: I hadn't realised that I had left it there until I read your review and than I snickered to myself. Gotta luv them cliffies.

Disclaimer: I do not own this characters at all and will never have the intentions of owning them. I'm only borrowing them for my own selfish pleasure and they will be returned in a slightly more used state. Even after resting for this long.

Chapter 10: Capture

Clint withheld the groan that was trying to force its way out of his throat as he grimaced at the dull throb on the back of his head. Not quite feeling that he had been hit by a Mack truck but he came pretty darn close to it. That much he was sure as he ran a mental checklist on his different muscle groups before he tested his range of motion which was not great but he could work with it, when the time came. He flexed his hands to discover that they were tied to a chair with his feet as well. He drew a deep breath and almost smile when he did not feel the constriction of the rope around his chest. He was being held by amateurs.

"He's awake." Sarah's voice projected from behind his left shoulder. He slitted his eyes as the light were proving to be too bright for his concussed brain.

"Early than what I would have thought." Alec's tone was pure malice as he softly padded to stand in front of Clint.

"Surprise!" Clint smirked as he felt the cold tip of the knife at his throat in an instance. He would have rolled his eyes at the implied threat behind the action. He might work out one of these days, why everyone pulled sharp implements on him.

"Do not speak unless spoken to." Alec hot breath brushed passed Clint's ear as a rotting stench filled Clint's nostrils, which almost made Clint gag as he slowly nodded his head.

"No problem." Clint stated before the knife's edge dug into the tender skin, making him sharply suck in a calming breath as he felt the warm drip of his blood.

"You see." Sarah walked closer and ran her fingers over his shoulders before she leant over to whisper in his ear, her lips tickling the shell. "We want information and you. . ." Her lips curling into a malicious smile as her fingers made their way onto his crown before she squeezed and jerked his head backwards. "My dear Hawkeye, will provide the answers."

"You believe that, do you?" Clint smiled as her fingers tightened further before slamming his head forward with enough force to rattle his brain.

"We have ways that will make you talk." Alec snarled as he moved around the room. Latches were heard being opened. "Ah!"

"No." Clint shouted as his head was held to the side before he felt a sharp pain in the neck when a coolness of the contents being injected into his system.

"Give it a couple of moments." Alec muttered as he patted Clint on the top of his head. "You tell us what we want to know and you can go free." Clint shot Alec a condescending expression.

"Don't worry, sweetheart." Sarah lightly tapped his cheek before she clenched her fist and aimed it for his nose. "We'll look after you real well." She whispered as she leant forward to brush her lips against his cheek.

"Graham Hindermarsh." Agent Hill spat as his employment record was recalled from the data banks. She quickly glance over it before she slammed out of her office and briskly made her way to Director Fury's office. She tapped at the door twice before she barged in and threw her table upon his desk.

"What's the meaning of this?" Fury growled at her pointed look before reaching forward and retrieving the tablet. His eye scanning the information as his lips compressed themselves into a thin line. "You've gotta be. . ."

"That was my initial reaction as well." Maria folded her arms over her chest as her brows drew together into a frown. "I don't even know how this type of security breach even happened." She shook her head.

"Well. We know that his induction officer was ex-Agent Clive Syms." Fury muttered as he continued to scan.

"Wasn't he expelled from this agency for. . ." Maria blinked in surprised as Fury grunted.

"Conduct unbecoming a representative of S.H.I.E.L.D." Fury rubbed his forehead.

"Ouch." Maria's eyebrow lifted as she tapped a fingernail. "Have we been tracking him?"

"Apparently not as actively as we should have been." Fury shook his head as he leaned back in his chair. "But I think we might just amend that."

"How sir?" Maria glanced once more at the file.

"His training was completed by Agent Romanoff."

"I don't see how that will help us. We have always rotated our operatives to train the recruits." A confusion look flashed through her eyes as she struggled to comprehend on what exactly was being said.

"And we haven't exactly hidden the fact that the Black Widow has defected from Russia."

"I suppose not, Director." Confusion still flowed through her veins as she tilted her head.

"It really makes you wonder what they were after?" Fury closed his eye briefly before he pierced her with a look. "I think it's time to recall a certain agent."

"Who?" Maria barked in surprise.

"This one." Fury leant over his desk with a folder. He watched Maria flick it opened and scanned the contents.

"Really," Maria's eyebrows shot up into her hairline. "This should prove to be interesting. What are we going to do about Hindermarsh?"

"Place him on the active watch list. Monitor his station and make sure that he receives only non essential. Ask Sitwell to complete this task."

"Yes sir. I'll get right onto that." Maria straighten up and walked over to the door.

"And Hill?" Fury called out, making Maria turn around and stare at him. "Assume nothing." She gave a small nod to indicate that she had understood the command.

"You will tell us where the Black Widow is?" Alec glanced at the bent head. Clint was bleeding sluggishly from the swallow nicks in his skin.

"I don't know who you are talking about." Clint spatted some of his pooling blood onto the floor. He was going to burn the cabin down when he got free.

"You see, Hawkeye, we know you are lying." Sarah cooed before she held up some grainy images of them fighting side by side. "You are her partner?" She lifted an eyebrow as if she expected his response.

"I don't know where you get. . ." Clint smirked as he felt his head getting jerked backwards once again.

"My information is a very reliable source." Sarah goaded as her eyes turned malicious with her next thought. "I think it's time."

"It's been a pleasure." Clint snark before his eyes rolled up into the back of his head.

"How long do you think it'll take to break him?" Sarah tilted her head as she watched Alec stroke his chin in deep thought.

"I don't know but it will be fun to see." A malevolent smile graced his thin features as they started to rearrange their surroundings for the next phase

Natasha stretched her aching back as she finished tapping at the keyboard. Her gaze turning towards the twelve folders that sat upon her desk as she rubbed a hand over her ever expanding stomach. She silently snapped the file shut before placing it on the finished pile, pulling another one in front of her. She flicked it opened and carefully scanned the contents before opening the right document for the requested equipment. She was really starting to appreciate what Phil had done for them in the background.

"Let's go and grab something edible within the mess hall." Natasha whispered to the growing child as she quickly slept her computer and stood up, stretching her tired muscles, groaning at the slight pulling sensation of lifting her hands above her head. Brushing her hair off her face as she quickly tied it back before she quickly made her way down to the mess hall.

She glanced over the pitiful selection of food as she waited in line with her tray. Grasping as she suddenly felt rapid movement within her abdomen area. A slight smile pulled briefly at her lips when she recalled the advice from Bruce about feeling movements from the baby. It would seem that the reality of it all had been kicked up a notch from the movement alone.

"What can I get for you, Romanoff?" Shivers barked at her, which in turn made Natasha, raise her eyebrow up at his tone.

"Choc mint ice cream." A sly smirk touched her pouty lips as she watched with deep satisfaction of the floundering agent. She reached forward and grabbed a somewhat passable salad, diced fruit and a bottle of water. "Thank you." She muttered before she sat down at her usual spot. Her eyes flicked up at the shadow that fell over her tray.

"Good to see that you are eating well." Hill teased lightly before placing her lunch tray besides her and slipped in.

"Atleast I know what I'm eating . . . Mostly." Natasha poked at her salad as she pointed a finger at Maria's choice. "I don't even want to know what that is meant to be."

"Apparently lasagne." Maria tilted her head in disbelief as she continued to stare at the mess in front of her before she took a tentative bite.

"I'll take your word for it." Natasha muttered before spearing a piece of onion with lettuce onto her fork before shovelling it into her mouth.

"It is not that bad actually." Maria smirked as she took another bite from her plate. Natasha chuckled when she rolled her eyes.

"So what brings you down to us mere mortals?" Natasha leant back against the wall behind her. Some habits died hard, she thought as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Food?" Maria hesitantly questioned as she shot her friend a look. Which in turn Natasha shot a knowing look at Maria before she took a sip of her water.

"No, chocolate milk." Natasha muttered.

"That's rather random?" Maria smirked as she clucked her tongue.

"No, it ain't." Natasha shook her head in denial. "I have a sudden desire for chocolate milk." Her brow was drawn together in a frown. She was never one for diary products as she turned this over in her mind.

"It seems that you got your first craving." Maria tilted her head before she got up and walked to the kitchens. She had been gone for a couple of minutes before she reseated herself back at the table, a pleased smile upon her face.

"What did you do?" Natasha asked with a slight hint of suspicion lacing her voice.

"Let's just say that I sent someone on an errand." Maria lifted her eyebrow as Natasha shot her a look of disbelief at her.

"You didn't." Natasha closed her eyes and counted backwards in Russian before opening them again. "Why?"

"Because Clint would have done exactly the same thing." Maria folded her arms before she tilted her head in thought. "No, not really. He would have gone himself." Natasha groaned as she face palmed.

Clint groaned as he slowly came too. He could feel the cold wood under his naked shoulders. His brain stopped the thought process when he realised that tiny fact. He was still tied down but it would have seemed like his location changed as he tried to force his eyes open but found that he was unable too. That he was now surrounded in absolute darkness brought a small smirk to his lips. He was really to begin to wonder where they had gotten their training from. He was completely at home within the darkness. He embraced the loneliness like a long lost lover.

"He's awake." Sarah's voice echoed around the room, which meant that either it was really small or there was nothing in it.

"Welcome back, Hawkeye." Alec sneered as he placed down the tool that he was currently inspecting. "You have been out for a little while. Shame that I missed my chance on waking you up." He curled his hand into a fist before striking Clint on the jaw.

"I'm sure there will be other opportunities." Clint heckled Alec as he rotated his jaw to feel for any loose movements.

"Always the funny one." Alec curled his upper lip as he spat on Clint.

"Oh, I try to be." Clint gritted his teeth as he felt the spittle slid down his shoulder. He was thankful that it had not been aimed for the face, but still, an insult was an insult and Alec would pay for it.

"Have I annoyed you?" Alec asked into the thin air as he waved Sarah over. His cold eyes watching every little facial expression that passed over Clint's face. "No. Such a shame." He tsked before moving over to the table.

"Tell us about the Black Widow." Sarah's voice was harsh as she gripped Clint's chin by her fingernails.

"Sure." Clint chuckled internally as he slowly drew a breath in and exhaled just as slowly. "It's a small spider with a red hour glass. . ."

"Not about the spider." Alec growled low as he punched Clint.

"Well, that is the only Black Widow that I know about." Clint quipped as he spat blood out of his mouth. His tongue quickly running along his teeth to see if any were loose.

"I think you are lying." Sarah tilted her head as she squeezed harder, her nails drawing blood as they started to pierce the crescent shapes that they were making. "I know you are lying." She chuckled as she closed her fingers more. They were slowly sinking into his skin. A pleased sadistic expression settled over her face. "I should just crave up your pretty face so. . ." She looked perplex to her partner as Clint started to laugh heartily.

"You're welcome to try, sweetheart." Clint snorted in disbelief at her statement. He knew that Nat would have thrown a fit at that one.

"You are little. . ." Sarah was rather confused by his actions.

"Matters not to me. It might actually make me more desirable to the fairer sex." Clint felt a half smirk pull at his lips. "I heard that chicks dig scars and the stories." He tilted his head.

"You are strange." Sarah muttered to herself before she was grabbed and dragged from the room. The door firmly clicking shut behind them. Clint allowed an amused smile to briefly touch his lips before he went back to studying the situation.

Natasha stretched her tired muscles as she shut down her computer for the night. She would be an extremely happy woman if she never saw another equipment request form. She rubbed tiredly at her eyes before picking up her bag and left the office for the day. The travel time to the tower was rather short and she suspected that she may have snoozed most of the way. She gave a small wave as goodbye as she unstrapped herself from the helicopter harness and ducked her head down from the thundering blades as she exited the aircraft. it leaving her standing there as she watched the aircraft lift into the sky before becoming a small speck on the horizon before disappearing all together. The look in her eyes was afar as she watched the lightening in the distance.

She gave her head a quick shake before she headed towards her floor and to the bath tub that had her name written all over it. She figured that peppermint scent would be soothing and relaxing after her long battle with her computer and keyboard. She would have preferred to be out in the field but a compromise had to be made. And as difficult as it was, she had finally forwarded her semi retiring papers. It was going to be interesting to see how the Director would handle the situation but she figured that a policy in place when an agent was on family leave. If there was not one, she would make sure there is now.

Quickly keying in her personal code, she stepped through the doorway and hung her cloak on the peg of the wall. Leaning back against the wall as she toed off her shoes and started to unzip her skirt as she gently padded up the hallway while unbuttoning her shirt. Upon reaching the bathroom, she flicked the lights on to bathe the room with a gentle yellow glow. She groaned when she leant over the bath and placed the plug in before turning the facets on.

Even after all this time, the bathroom still amazed her with its luxurious simplicity. As she opened the cabinet beneath the hand basin for the bath salts that she had kept for the sole purpose of what was happening now. She measured the required amount before placing that amount into the running water. She would normally have a bottle of vodka while she soaked within her bath but she had read that she could place herself either into early labour or have a miscarriage. Either way, she was not willingly to test that theory at this point. It would be some thing that she may consider when the time came.

Quickly shutting off the running water, she gave the water a stir to see if all the crystals had been dissolved in the process of the bath being filled. Standing to her full height as she searched for the lighter to lit the aromatic candles that sat upon the upper ledge. After the candles had been lit, she used the remote to turn on the ambient relaxation music that she had come to like when she needed to be unstressed from a situation; shedding the rest of her clothing before tying up her hair, realising for the first time that it had grown in length.

She watched the steam rising for a moment as she slowly drew it into her lungs. Her shoulders hunching as she slowly stepped into the bath allowing her skin temperature to adjust to the heat. Natasha reclined against the bathtub as her eyes slid closed. Sadness furling around her heart to settled into her stomach as she bit her lower lip to hold the sobbing back. Her hands gently cupping her stomach as she slightly curled upon her side; the tears pooling at the corner of her eyes before sliding down her cheek. She gently cried once more for the man that had brighten her world for a short period of time, only to have been cruelly torn from that world. But she could be grateful about the gift of himself that he had unknowingly left behind.

"I'm worried about her, Tony." Pepper sighed as she slowly traced a finger upon his chest. They were laying down as Tony shifted ever so slightly into Pepper's direction, a subtle indicator that she had his whole attention, no matter the span of it.

"Natasha is a strong woman." His own fingers brushing along her exposed upper arm before smoothing her hair down as his voice rumbled into her ear. "She keeps me in line mostly."

"Only when she isn't hell bent on hurting you from your own mouth." Pepper smiled slightly as she felt his chest shake with his amusement.

"You wound me." He scoffed as he placed his hand over his arc rector.

"Only your pride, Tony." She smiled in returned as she nuzzled his skin. "But still I have to worry."

"I know, my dear heart." Tony murmured as he exhaled a breath.

"What did you just call me?" She pushed herself up as she leant over his chest, her fingers reaching forward to place themselves upon his cheek, pulling his face around to see her.

"You know exactly what I said." Tony swallowed as a pleased expression filtered across Pepper's face. "You're beautiful." He whispered as he brought his head up and lightly touched his lips to hers. His hands finding their way into her soft hair as he deepen the kiss. Not exactly how he planned to distract her from the worry that seemed to be crackling among the residents of the tower but he take whatever was given to him.

In case anyone is trying to keep track of Nat's pregnancy, she is roughly 3 and half months here. Which means that she has cleared her first trimester. So until next time, have a good one! ;D